TURKEY - a report from a birdwatching trip to Central ... - Netfugl.dk

to the south, since left (as noted in Gosney 1991). At a fast brook along road 5, turn south again: the
next km´s along the eastern site of the forest is the main site. "The Picnic Area", described in
Gosney 1991 proved unsuccesfull.
Other areas includes main road leading S from main Highway Adana-Gaziantep towards
Yumurtalik (at village of Demirtas) (Grunwell 2005). Observed Birezik May 2006 (Nilsson 2006).
Prefers wooden areas and plantations with well grown canals and wires for lookout post, but kept
well hidden during most of the stay. Not necessarily a wetland bird, as often seen away from water
in areas where more widespread, such as in India (own obs.).
153. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Gråfisker
2005: 21.5 2 fish ponds along River Euphrates S of Birezik - 21.5 1 gravel pits north of Birezik
along west bank of River Euphrates.
2007: 25.5 4 Kiji Restaurant, Birezik.
A species with a southern distribution inTurkey, to be looked for even at Halfeti, at Göksu and
Tarsus Deltas and along Tigris along slowly streaming rivers, prefarable with fish ponds.
Population estimated to ca. 200 pairs in Turkey (Cramp 1985).
154. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Biæder
Common and widespread, especially attracted by bee-farming, but regular throughout.
2005: Most 13.5 25 Akgöl, Göksu - 15.5 24 at colony Dorigal - 15.5 20 Kayseri - 16.5 20 Maden
Koprunasi. - 17.5 20 migrating Rize - 17.5 75 migrating Hopa - 18.5 16 Igdir - 19.5 11 Ishak Pasa -
19.5 14 Van hills (of which 11 migrating north) - 19.5 10 Erzek Gölü - 20.5 29 Tatvan - 21.5 20
River Euphrates S of Birezik - 21.5 60 gravel pits N of Birezik along western bank of River
Euphrates (the former locality for Blue-cheeeked Bee-eater,), incl. breeding colony.
2006: Most 17.5 21 Kayseri-Sarkisla - 17.5 25 Sivas – 18.5 42 Erzinzan-Mercan – 21.5 45
Dogubayazit – 22.5 25 Ishak Pasa – 23.5 79 Bitlis-Silman – 23.5 21 Silvan-Diyabakir – 24.5 35
Atatürk Barazi (see Green Bee-eater) – 25.5 15 Birezik. On migration 19.5 9 migrating Kalkandere
– 21.5 17 Ishak Pasa – 22.5 11 Bendimahi Marshes-Van – 23.5 12 Van-Tatvan.
2007: Most 18.5 20 Yoncalic-Maden Köprubasi – 18.5 20 at coloni Maden Köprubasi – 18.5 50 at
coloni Ispir – 20.5 10 Halikisla (incl. breeding pair) – 20.5 17 Tuzluca - 21.5 20 Erzis-Aydinlar –
21.5 30 Bulanik (incl. breeding coloni Rustemgedik) – 22.5 22 Baykan-Batman – 22.5 55 Sucete,
Raman Dagi – 22.5 25 Hasankeyf – 23.5 10 Buzak – 24.5 45 at breeding colony Atatürk Baraji. On
migration 18.5 11 Yoncalic-Maden Köprubasi – 19.5 10 Rize-Hopa
The Turkish population estimated to between 10.000 and 100.000 pairs (Tucker & Heath 1994).
155. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus Grøn Biæder
2006: 24.5 40 at breeding site Atatürk Baraji (between Adiyaman and Sanli Urfa).
2007: 24.535 at breeding site Atatürk Baraji.
The breeding site at Atatürk Barasi is easily found. 3km west of the road crossing at Atatürk
Barasi, the road crosses the rover Euphrates. 200 m. further to the west the birds breeds in a mixed
colony with Bee-eaters in gravel pits. 4 birds here in late April 2007, when the area was disturbed
by sand-digging now (P. ter Heide in e-mail), but colony fully occupied 24.5. The coloni is in a
small, sheltered area away from the colony of European Bee-eater.
Formerly bred at Birezik (e.g. >25 birds here in June 1994), but only random observations since
2001,where the habitat at the gravel pits was destructed. In recent years a small breeding colony is
at Estafirulla near Tatvan (3 in 2006). Also breeds east of Igdir: take the road towards Araliki, and
scan the first village (Harrop 1994, Goossens 2006, Highie 2006), and probably along the border to
Armenia. Found in dry areas with gravel pits and scattered trees, especially near water. Turkish